Brass wind musical instrument.



R. E. WATTS.

BRASS WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11- 1914.

. h W w 7 n n 2% I I m 5 W m d W W n m 2 m k7 1 8 6 4 m? J 1 W% cuLumulA ILANOGRAPH canvasrxmn'rmw. D4 c.

R. E. WATTS. BRASS WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3. I9I4.

mkwmx R. E. WATTS. BRASS WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

- APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3 1914. 1,148,417. Patented July 27, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Fig. 5

m m i 219236 fift 3 L f @541 00 f 2 o f 0 "a I .1 fiWm/ir %//765565 6 y COLUMBIA l'LANOliRAI'H cu wAsnn: aaaaaaaa R. E. WATTS.

BRASS WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3. 1914.

1,148,41 7. Patented J... 27, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH (10., WASHINGTON. D. c.

R. E. WATTS.

BRASS WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLlCATlON men FEB. 3. 1914.

1,148,417. Patented July 27, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5- COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH 110.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3, I914.

Patented July 27, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6."

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAIH C0.,WA5 H|NOTON, n. c.

TTTTLITk I UNITED STATES PATENT onnron.

RICHARD EDWARD WATTS, 0F STAMFORD, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN HOBKIRK, OF STAMFORD, ENGLAND.

BRASS WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed February 3, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD EDWARD WATTS, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Stamford, in the county of Lincoln, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Brass Vind Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

In an ordinary brass wind musical instrument having the usual three piston valves there is one conduit or air passage through the valves, and each of the valves is adapted, when depressed to connect with this conduit a suitable loop tube. It is well known that when two or three valves are depressed together that the sum of the lengths of the loop tubes in use is too short to produce the required note accurately in tune. Various devices have been proposed to overcome this defect, but to the best of my belief none of these are correct for all the seven positions of the valves in a three valved instrument.

In my improved instrument the tubing in use with each of the seven positions is of the correct length to produce the notes corresponding to these positions perfectly in tune to the equal temperament scale, except of course those harmonics which are well known to be slightly at variance with that temperament.

In my improved instrument I provide three conduits or air passages through the valves, each conduit being connected to tubing of suitable length to produce the notes of one position. Each conduit is provided with a loop tube or loop tubes, adapted to be thrown into connection with it by the depressing of the appropriate valve or valves, thereby lengthening it accurately to produce the required note.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating one method of carrying out my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the casings and valves used to carry the method illustrated in Fig. 1 into effect, and is suitable for a saxhorn. Fig. 3 is a plan of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 41 is an end elevation of the-same. Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating a modification of my invention. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the casings and valves used to carry this modified form of my invention into effect. Fig. 7 is a full Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1915. Seria1No.816,252.

elevation of one side of the valves and casings of such modification showing the arrangement of connections and valve tubing. Fig. 8 is a full elevation showing the reverse side of the above, and Fig. 9 is a plan of the same. Fig. 10 is a diagram representing another modification of Fig. 1.

In all these drawings the reference letter for the first valve is a, for the second 5, and for the third 0. The connections between the valve casings are referred to by the letters (J, 6, g, It with the addition of an index numeral. The ports in the valves are marked with the letters a, b, c and av, 2 with the addition of an index numeral. The inlet tube from the mouthpiece is marked m, and the outlet tube to the bell of the instrument is marked 0. The loop tubes, carrying tuning slides are all marked With the letter f, the one in use to produce the open notes of the instrument being distinguished by the index numeral 0 thus 7". The tube used to lower the pitch one semitone is designated 7, 2 semitones 7, 3 semitones and so on to f.

In my invention the air conduit or passage for either the open notes or the valve notes is generally through all the valves on the outward journey and back through the valves on the return journey. In some cases however one or more of these passages passes around one or two of the valves either 011 the outward journey or on the return journey.

In the diagram Fig. 1 the valves are shown in two groups, the one group a, b, 0 representing the outward passage from the mouthpiece, and the second group 0, b, a representing the return passage to the bell of the instrument. Between the two groups of valves a series of loop tubes of varying lengths is arranged indicated by letters I, 7', f f 7", f 7. There are two air passages leading from and returning to the valve a, which in this arrangement is the first valve the air enters from the mouthpiece. One of these passages indicated by the line a cl", Z)", 6 0, loop tube f, 00, 9 y", it", 2, is in use when all the valves are up, and the other indicated by the line (L 01 6 e 0 loop tube f x g g 71. 2 is in use when valve a is depressed. The first one gives the open note of the instrument and the second one lowers the itch of the instrument 2 semitones; In t is descrip' tube 7, m, g, y being in use when the valve 1) is depressed alone and lowering the pitch of the instrument one semitone, and

the other indicated by the line b loop tube f, g which is in use when the valve 1) is depressed together with valve a and lowers the pitch of the instrument 3 semitones. Valve 0 when depressed alone cuts out the open loop tube f and directs the air column through 0 loop tube f and 50, the loop tube f being of correct length to lower the pitch of the instrument 6 semitones. lVhen valve 0 is depressed along with valve 12, valve a being up, it cuts out loop tube f and directs the air column through 0 f, a the loop tube 7 serving to lower the pitch 4 semitones, and when valve 0 is depressed with valve a down and valve 1) up it cuts out loop tube 7' and directs the air through 0, f, 00 lowering the pitch 5 semitones.

Figs. 2', 3 and 4' are marked with the same letters and index numbers as Fig. 1, but in Fig. 2 when a valve port makes two connections, one when the valve is normal and one when the valve is depressed, the port is lettered with the letterings appropriate to each connection. The first valve is provided with four ports 2, 2 a, a and the first and second valve casings are connected by 4 short tubes h", hi d". (P. The second valve has six ports y ('y and if) 3 6 (6 and b b and the connection between the second and third valve casings are marked 9, g, 9 6 e, 6 The ports in. the third piston are marked 00 (w and 00) and m (:0 and 0) (0 and 0) (0 and 0 and 0 and these ports, as shown in the plan, deflect the air alternately to the right and to the left. Moreover these ports are spaced equidistantly along the axis of the valve. The connections,or loops, are marked f, f, 1, f f, f and f. With all the valves up the air enters at m and passes through ports and connections marked 0.", cZ, 6, 6 0, through the loop or connection f and returns to the outlet 0 through 00, 9, fl/ h 2. With the first valve down air enters through ports and connections a d b e 0 through loop f returning. to the outlet 0 through m 12 72. 2 With the second valve down air enters through ports and connections a, d b, e, 0 through loop f returning through 00', g, y, it", 2. With the 1/2 valves down air enters through a d 6 loop i returning through f; 2 The third valve deflects the air alternately to right and to left. The air which enters f when the third valve is up is deflected into 7 when the third valve is depressed, and that in 7 when the 3rd. valve is up is deflected into 7 when the 3rd. V;1l"8 is depressed, that in f with the 3rd. valve up into when it is down. These are the inlet courses into the loop tubes, the outlet courses are similar, as will be seen. In this arrangement the 1/2/3 combination 6., first, second and third valves depressed pro duces the same efiect as the 1/2 combination a. 6., first and second valves depressed and third valve up. The loops or connections f, 7, f f, F, f are each fitted with a tuning slide, the tuning slide for 7" being beyond the valve system.

I have shown the air inlet and outlet tubes on the first valve casing and the loop tubes on the third valve casing, but it is obvious that this arrangement can be reversed. The loop tube i short-circuits the valve 0 in order to avoid using an inordinately long third piston. It will be seen that the de pressing of the valves (1, Z) and ctogether produces the same effect as depressing only a; and Z), the air in both cases passing through loop tube The valve 0, e. the 3rd. valve, is depressed alone to lower the pitch 6 semitones, not the three valves a, b, and 0 together as is usual.

I sometimes as shown in Fig. 10 arrange the air passage (4, (1, 6, 0, 0, loop tube f, 00, 9, y h, 2 to miss or pass around the valve 0 instead of arranging the air passage 6 loop tube f, g to miss or pass around 'this valve, in which case the fingering of the instrument is the same as is usual with the exception that depressing the 3rd. valve alone produces no effect. In this arrangement the operations are as follows :VVhen all the valves are up the air enters at m and passes through ports and connections marked a", (Z, 12 through the loop or con nection 7 and returns to the outlet 0 through ports g 72R, 2. Vith the first valve down air enters through (0 (Z 5 c 0 through loop or connection f returning to outleto through 02 9 J2, k 2 IVith the second valve down air enters through a, d 7), a, a through loop or connection f, returning through 02, g, y, h, 2. With the 1/2 valves down air enters through a", (1 b 6 0 through loop or connection 7' returning through 00, 9 3 If, 2 The third valve deflects the air alternately to right and to left. The air which enters f when the 3rd. valve is up is deflected into 7 when the 3rd. valve is depressed, and that in f when the third valve is up is deflected into 7? when the 3rd. valve is depressed, f with the 8rd.up into 7 when it is down. These are the inlet courses, the outlet courses are similar, as will be seen.

It will be understood from the foregoing description and by studying Fig. 1 that the loop tubes 7" to f are independent tubes and each is used to produce the notes appropriate to one position only.

I will now describe the modification shown in Figs. 5 to 9. In this modification the length of the valves is much reduced and less tubing is required in its construction.

Referring to the diagram Fig. 5. In this arrangement the air from the mouthpiece is led first to valve 0 from which the outlet tube also leads to the bell of the instrument. The air conduit or passage producing the open note of the instrument when all the valves are up is indicated by the line 0, 0, 6, d, 0, 6, g 9, 00. The air passage 0 0 6 (6, a40 fra :0 in use when the valve 0 is depressed is so much longer than the open air passages in use when all the valves are up as to lower the pitch of the instrument very nearly 3 semitones; the reason for the qualification very nearly will appear later. In this arrangement only the air passage indicated by the line 6, cl, a loop tube f, y, 9, 00, is in use when the valve 6 is depressed either alone or with valve or. In this air passage is arranged the loop tube which makes it of correct length to lower the pitch one semitone when valve 6 is depressed alone. When valve a is depressed alone it throws into the open air passage 0, 0, 6 and so on, the loop tube f in the ordinary and well understood manner, thus correctly lowering the pitch of the instrument 2 semitones. When the valve a is depressed together with valve 6 it throws into the air passage 6, d, a, f, y the loop tube f which correctly lengthens said air passage so as to lower the pitch 3 semitones. When the valve 6 is depressed together with valve 0 it throws into the air passage marked 0, 0 6 d and so on the loop tube 7 which lengthens this air passage sufliciently to lower the pitch 4 semitones in all; similarly when valve a is depressed with Valve 0 the loop tube f is thrown into air passage lowering the pitch 5 semitones in all. To lower the pitch 6 semitones the valves a and 6 are both depressed with valve 0. It will be obvious that if the loop tube 720 is of correct length to lower the pitch 3 semitones and the loop tubes f and f are each of correct length to lower the pitch respectively 4 and 5 semitones when used in connection with this tube (fan with valve 0 depressed that if both are used together with valve 0 the length of tubing in use will be too short to produce seventh position notes accurately in tune. I remedy this defect in the following manner. As the loop tube fw used alone is only an alternative for the tubes 7, f in use with the valves a and 6 depressed, I make this tube rather short and the loop tubes f and f proportionately long, the cor rect length being indicated in the following simultaneous equations :fm +f*:correct length to lower pitch l semitones, fan -H correct length to lower pitch 5 semitones, fw+f +f:correct length to lower pitch 6 semitones. These lengths provide correct 7th. position or 1/2/3 notes1l. 0., notes produced when the first, second and third valves are simultaneously depressed-at the expense of sligatly shortening the alternative 3 semitone notcs made with the valve 0 alone and only used in rapid passages to simplify the fingering.

Referring to Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 the valve 0 has four ports w, 0, 0 and the casings of the valves 0 and 6 are connected by three short tubes 9, 0, 0 The valve 6 has five ports y (y and 6) (6 and 6 6 and y and the casings of the valves 6 and a are connected by l short tubes 61, cZ, d, 01. The valve a has seven ports a, e (a and 0 0, 04 and (m 2 and 01. The tuning loops are marked 7, 7, f, 7, and fafi lVith all the valves up, the air enters at m and passes through loops and connections 0, 0, 6, 03, 0, 6, ;1 9, and 00 to the outlet 0. With the first valve a down air passes through ports and connections 0, 0, 6, 07, 0%, loop tube 7 then through 2 6, y, 9 and 00, to 0. Vith valve 6 down, the air passes through 0, 0, 6, d a loop tube f through y, 9 and 00 to 0. With valves a and 6 depressed the air passes through ports and connections 0, 0, 6, d, a loop tube through .2 loop f, through y, 9, 00 to 0. With valve 0 depressed, the air passes through 0 0 6 (P, am loop tube 700 missing valve 6 through port m to 0. WVith valves 0 and a down, passage is through 0 0 6 a loop tube f through 2 loop i00 through port 00 to 0. With valves 0 and 6 down, passage is through 0 0 6" loop 7 through y 0Z ail loop fa: through x to 0. With all valves down, passage is through 0, 0 6 loop f through 2 (Z (1 loop i through 0 loop 700 through 00 to o.

l/Vhat I claim is:

1. A brass wind musical instrument with three piston valves, having in combination with the valves two independent air passages controlled by one of the valves, and a third air passage which by depressing another of the valves is substituted for one of said air passages.

2. A brass wind musical instrument having the usual three piston valves and provided with two independent air passages or conduits through the valves namely, 0, 0, 6, (Z (11, 6", :I/O, 9, 50, and 0, 0, 6 0Z a00 i00 a one in use when the first valve is up and the other in use when this valve is depressed, in combination with ports and connections whereby the depressing of the second valve causes a portion of one of these air passages namely, 6, d, a, it", y to be cut out and replaced by an independent air pas- Sage f, y-

3. A brass wind musical instrument with three piston valves, having two independent air passages controlled by the first valve and an independent third air passage controlled by the second valve, said third air passage passing once only through the third valve.

4. A brass wind musical instrument with three piston valves, having two independent air passages controlled by one of the valves, a third air passage controlled by another of the valves, and an ordinary loop f on the remaining valve which can be added to said third air passage by the depression of the said remaining valve. I

5. A brass wind musical instrument with three piston valves, having two independent air passages controlled by the first valve, a third air passage controlled by the second Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the valve, a loop on the third valve, which loop can be added to the said third air passage by depressing the said third valve, a loop on the second valve which can, by depressing the second valve, be added to one of the air passages controlled by the first valve, and two other loops on said third valve which can, by depressing the third valve, be added respectively to the two air passages controlled by the first valve.

6. A brass wind musical instrument with three piston valves having two independent air passages passing through the three valves and controlled by the first valve, a third air passage controlled by the second valve, and a loop controlled by the second valve.

RICHARD EDXVARD XVATTS.

Vitnesses Gno. HARRIsON, HERBERT A. BEESTON.

Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

